“Twelve years in the making, What Today Withholds demonstrates deep empathy for the circumstances of autistic people, while offering a detailed and strident—yet constructive—critique of the societal barriers autistics encounter and the perpetuators of those barriers. I am in awe of this book!”
— Nathan Spoon, poet, author most recently of The Importance of Being Feeble-Minded
“This is an extraordinary work that is impressive for its depth, scope, and clarity. McLaughlin takes a deep dive into the history of research and practice of “treating” autism, then describes the costs that these methods have had on the education, employment, and health of autistic people. More importantly, she centers the voices of autistics themselves by sharing their accounts of the lasting effects of treatments, therapies, and programs – as well as the joys and challenges they face pursuing work, relationships, and identity in a neurotypical world. Both scholarly and sensitive, this book is highly recommended for educators, employers, and policy makers looking to better support the basic human needs and aspirations of autistics of all ages.”
–Aaron Ebata, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Principal Investigator, The Autism Program at the University of Illinois, Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, UIUC
“This well-written treatise on autism, written for a non-autistic audience, covers many important and controversial topics with passion, historical reflection, and erudition.”
– Morton Ann Gernsbacher, Professor of Psychology, University of Wisconsin
“This book is a must-read—or at least a “should read”—for parents of autistic children, regardless of their position on the spectrum, as well as for educators, school administrators, and potential employers of autistic individuals.”
— Stephanie Wada, NYC
“Written with compassion, humanity, and humor, McLaughlin brings us into the world of autism, autistic people, and their families. Thoroughly researched and filled with real stories the book dispels the myths about autism and explains the realities of the condition.” – Dana Rabin, Professor of History, University of Illinois